Moccasin Game Notes
LAKELAND - Florida Southern will return to the court following a 12-day layoff here Wednesday afternoon as the Moccasins close out the 2015 calendar year with a 2 p.m. non-conference game against Flagler at Jenkins Field House.
The Mocs, who are ranked 22nd in the latest D2SIDA National Media Poll, haven't played since earning a 69-64 win over Lake Superior State to conclude the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic on Dec. 18. The victory over Lake Superior State extended FSC's win streak to two straight games and its win streak in non-conference games to seven consecutive games.
FSC is looking to set a milestone on Wednesday as with a victory over the Saints, the Mocs will set a school record for most wins in a season before January. Entering Wednesday's game, the Mocs, who are under the direction of second year coach Betsy Harris, have won 10 games this season, which is tied with the 2009-10 squad that won 10 games before the month of January. FSC has never won 11 games in a season before the month of January in the program's history.
Meanwhile, Flagler comes into match-up having dropped three straight games after opening the 2015-16 season by winning four of its first five games. The Saints, like FSC, haven't played since suffering a 45-39 loss at Young Harris to close out its pre-Christmas schedule. The Young Harris followed a home loss on Dec. 15 against Florida Tech (59-51) and at North Georgia (70-55) on Dec. 17. Flagler is sporting a 4-4 record this season.
Wednesday's match-up will mark the 25th meeting all-time between the two teams and it will be the second straight season that the Mocs have faced Flagler as FSC earned a 62-49 win last seasons in the season opening UT Spartan Challenge on Nov. 15. The Mocs hold a 20-4 edge in the series and have won seven straight and 19 of the last 20 games overall in the series. FSC leads the series, 9-1 in Lakeland and also holds a 9-2 lead in St. Augustine and also leads 2-1 on neutral courts.
The Mocs, who started the season 8-0 for the just the second time in school history, come into play with one of the top offenses in the Sunshine State Conference as the Mocs are second in the league and 31st nationally in Division II in scoring as they are averaging 75.5 points per game and have scored 70 or more points in seven of 11 games, including opening the season by scoring 90-plus points in back-to-back games. Along with averaging 75.5 points per game, the Mocs are also second in the SSC and in the Top 25 nationally in both field goal percentage (46.3 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (37.6 percent).
Leading the way offensively for the Mocs is sophomore guard Jensen Blassage (Cherry Valley, Ill.). Blassage is one of three Mocs averaging in double figures as she is averaging 12.6 points per game and is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game and is shooting 48 percent from the field and leads the SSC in assist/turnover ratio (2.1). On the year, she has scored in double figures in seven games, including six times in her last seven games and has dished out five or more assists in six consecutive games.
In addition to Blassage, the two other Mocs averaging in double figures this season are senior forward Mariah Harris (Gainesville, Fla.) and senior guard Sydni Payne (Conyers, Ga.). Harris is second on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (5.7 rpg) and is shooting 58 percent from the field and has scored in double figures seven times in her last eight games, while Payne, who is a two-time SSC Player of the Week this season, is averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field, 41 percent from the 3-point line and 85 percent from the free throw line.
Defensively, FSC is allowing its foes to score 65.4 points per game and have held its last nine opponents under 75 points and is allowing its foes to shoot 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line. FSC is outscoring its foes by a little over 10 points per game and are outrebounding its opponents by a +2.8 margin.
Wednesday's game will feature two teams that like to create turnovers and collect steals as FSC enters the contest forcing 17.5 turnovers per game and is leads the SSC in steals per game as they are averaging 9.5 per game, while Flagler is forcing 20.5 turnovers per game and is averaging 9.9 steals per game.
On the season, four Mocs have collected 10 or more steals with Payne having picked up 23 steals and is averaging 2.1 per game, while Flagler has had five players record 10 or more steals with senior guard Allie Mano leading the way with 16 as she averages 2.0 steals per game.
Much like Florida Southern, Flagler comes into Wednesday's game with three players averaging in double figures led by senior guard Teosha Ray, who is averaging 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 36 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line. In addition to Ray, Mano is averaging 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and has hit a team best 13 treys and sophomore forward Tiffany Hodge is averaging 10.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and is shooting 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line.
As a team, the Saints are averaging 63.4 points per game, but have been held under 55 points in its last three games, including scoring a season low 39 points in its last outing against Young Harris. Flagler is shooting 36 percent from the field, but just 31 percent from the 3-point line. On defense, Flagler is allowing 54.8 points per game and has held five opponents to less than 60 points and the Saints foes are shooting 35 percent from the field and 21 percent from the 3-point line, which is third nationally in the latest NCAA Division II statistics.
Flagler is coached by Erika Lang-Montgomery, who is 58-110 in her seventh season at the helm of the Saints program.
Following Wednesday's game, the Mocs will conclude its season long five-game homestand at Jenkins Field House on Saturday, Jan. 2 as they open the New Year with a 5:30 p.m. SSC match-up against Tampa.
